An application for the development of 50 homes near Haslemere, Surrey, has been approved, with the help of the Engain team.
Engain have worked with site owners, Redwood Southwest Ltd, since 2017 providing evidence to support the emerging sustainable plans for the Scotland Park development, at the gateway to the South Downs National Park.
The project went to Public Inquiry in December 2021 after being rejected by Waverley Borough Council in summer 2021 where the appeal was allowed in February 2022.
Whilst Waverley Borough Council had not refused the application due to ecology and biodiversity, there was an emphasis on the site’s ecological value and was an important consideration in demonstrating the site’s credibility of a high standard / planning compliant development.
Engain helped design biodiversity benefits and expertise on avoiding possible impacts to wildlife and protected species, including dormice, bats, reptiles and badgers.
The Scotland Park project will deliver over 20% biodiversity net gain, double the mandatory requirement of 10%. This has been a key factor in the project’s credibility as a sustainable design complying with national, local and neighbourhood planning policy.
Engain provided a range of services to help secure planning permission, including complex species surveys and analysis; habitat surveys of woodland, hedgerows, and grassland; an Ecological Impact Assessment; an ecology chapter for an Environmental Impact Assessment; and a Biodiversity Net Gain assessment.
Elivia Homes has since purchased the site to build the development and has retained Engain to provide ongoing ecological clerk of works during construction, a development licence for dormice and advice to discharge planning conditions.
Sam Rogers from Engain said: “This was a complex project that took many years and involved various agencies including Natural England, South Downs National Park, and several other consultants specialising in various fields. We’re delighted to have supported Redwood Southwest Ltd and look forward to continuing to work on the development as it progresses.”
A spokesperson for Redwood Southwest Ltd said: “Engain’s contribution to the success of the Scotland Park project has been immeasurable. Aside from being very nice people to deal with, their close attention to detail from site surveys to report writing is of the highest quality. This won out against ecological objections raised by the public during the phase 1 planning process, where planning consent was eventually secured for 50 houses.
“Engain’s grasp of emerging Biodiversity Net Gain issues was also key to evidencing an exemplar development proposal. Engain is a valued member of an exceptional design team and are retained to advise on phase 2 of the project, a mixed-use housing and green infrastructure proposal.”